PMB Does BabyFestNW

Kangaroo Karry

Most baby carriers put the bulk of baby’s weight on your shoulders and upper back, a system which didn’t work for Kangaroo Karry’s founders John and AnnaJo Westerfield. After discovering popular South Korean carriers with, essentially, built-in seats, they adapted the design for the U.S. market and Kangaroo Karry’s Little Hopper was born. The carrier can be used for babies as young as four months old all the way up to 45-lb toddlers. The strap portion of the carrier can be removed to side-carry older children on mom or dad’s hips, which would be a blessing on long walks or family hikes.

After discussing the reasoning for their design, I ran home and tested the Little Hopper on my 9-month-old daughter. The carrier was straightforward and uncomplicated to put on, and my daughter snuggled right in without difficulty. My immediate thought was, “She is so light!” (she is 20 lbs). Impressed by the significant difference vis a vis other carriers, I asked my sister to test it out with her older, heavier kiddo. Same result. Her eyes popped out and she asked, “How much does this magical thing cost?” The answer is $110, a good $30-$70 less than comparable carriers. More information is available on their website: www.kangarookarry.com.

Macaroni Minx

What do you get someone who is newly pregnant? “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” can be a little… intense. A more lighthearted option is “The Pregnasaurus,” an illustrated story for moms-to-be that is often as hilarious as it is sweet. What started as the personal project of author Jodi Neelin ended up being her top-selling item in a shop of baby- and pregnancy-related goods. Neelin tells it as it is, with gems such as:

“As her sock rings
Grew deeper with each passing day,
It was obvious the candles were planning to stay.”

Check out Macaroni Minx’s shop for details on “The Pregnasaurus” as well as other cute gift ideas (including a maternity t-shirt line inspired by the book!).

FIT4MOM

Prenatal and post natal fitness can be daunting, at a time when just leaving the house is sometimes a challenge. FIT4MOM gets it, providing mamas with different options to get in a workout and, hopefully, live up to their tagline “Strength in Motherhood.” FIT4MOM’s programs – Prenatal Fit4Baby, Stroller Strides, Stroller Barre, and Body Back – give moms a way to work out no matter what stage they are at in their motherhood experience. Both of the Stroller options include kiddos (in strollers, naturally!) and combine workouts with silly games and fun activities that keep both mom and kids engaged.

In chatting with two owners of Portland-area Fit4Moms (Megan from FIT4MOM Cedar Mill and Nikki from FIT4MOM SW Portland), they agreed that one of the biggest benefits they’ve observed in their programs is the community that forms between the moms.  Not surprisingly, FIT4MOM encourages these relationships by hosting regular playgroups and Moms Night Out events in tandem with their fitness programs.

Re-Play

Re-Play makes children’s tableware – cups, spoons, plates, bowls – as well as snack stacks and toys, all from recycled milk jugs. Amazing! According to their website, to date they have saved over 11,000,000 milk jugs from heading to landfills, instead transforming them into colorful products that are free from BPA, BPS, PVC, lead, phthalates and melamine.

What I found most striking about Re-Play’s products was that they are very lightweight but still obviously sturdy. The sippy cups make for functional cups with or without the lids, which is a nice option for those of us who have kids of varying ages — none of whom are necessarily ready for glass. Though you can find Re-Play throughout Portland at many large retailers (Fred Meyer, Babies R Us, etc.), you can also check out their store locator to find them at some of your favorite independent stores.

Seahorses PDX

Speaking of independent store faves, Seahorses PDX was at BabyFestNW equipped with many of their dynamite toys and gears as at their popular shop. If you aren’t familiar with Seahorses, their store has become the first of its kind in Portland, a self-described “place for modern dads and their kids.”

The store (located at 4029 SE Hawthorne) is packed with goodies for babies and kids (and dads, too!), but it also hosts events and promotes community-building at their indoor space. Check out their online calendar for performances, workshops and talks. Coming up, Seahorses will be hosting their second annual Dadiator Games on June 17, wherein they put dads to the test in a series of parenting tasks (think: chariot race with strollers, babyproofing challenges, and more!).

Ardo Breastpumps

Ardo’s pumps kiiiiiinda blew my mind. Ardo is a Swiss company who makes a completely different style pump than anything I’ve seen before, using vacuum seal technology to ensure a total barrier between the breastmilk and contaminants that may get into the pump parts or bottles. Plus, it’s noticeably quieter, which of course is a great bonus.

Ardo produces a full line of electric and manual breast pumps, and their products come with three different breast shield sizes so that mamas don’t need to buy additional parts. Their pumps are available online, and they also participate in insurance programs (contact them for more information).

Luna Wellness

Pregnancy and birth challenges your body. We all know that. Even an “easy” pregnancy is hard, and self-care is a necessity. Luna Wellness is a specialized clinic focusing on pregnancy, postpartum, and pediatric care, with chiropractors, acupuncturists, and massage therapists well-versed in some of the more nuanced aspects of working with these specific populations. Full disclosure: I met with Luna Wellness at BabyFestNW, but by pure coincidence happened to have gone to Luna the day before for a massage. The team at Luna is friendly, helpful, and they genuinely know their stuff!

As Luna states, “Postpartum support is not a luxury!” So many of us treat is as such, and Luna Wellness aims to make it more accessible to Portland mamas by offering events, promotions and reduced-rate memberships. Plus! They offer complimentary childcare at The Sprout Center while parents are receiving services!